Duck Lake...Grand Traverse ???

[michigansnorkeler]

I am going to rent a cottage on Duck Lake in Grand Traverse this summer. I am concerned about the mayfly hatch.

I was looking at June 28 through July 5th, and of course the renter tells me that is a good time to be there. However, I am hoping some of you in the know could give me a less biased take on this.

I want to target smallmouth and do some kayaking on Duck and Green Lakes, but I want to hit Grand Traverse when weather allows. Is this a good time? Is EARLIER better? Is LATER better?

[Jnamo]

What is it exactly that concerns you about the mayfly hatch?

[Eyer420]

Your only concern about the mayfly hatch is being up there when it goes off.

[michigansnorkeler]

One guide website I looked at said the fishing may slow down at the end of June/beginning of July due to the hatch (especially the latter part of it??)

Is this not the case?

[Jnamo]

The hatch should be done by then. It is hard to say for sure. It is a bit different every year. There is a fun way to catch bass this time of year.

PM sent....


:D

[Kapa1]

Last time I was on Duck Lake was probably 12 years ago. If I remember correctly there wasn't a damn fish in that lake.

Hopefully it has improved over the years.

[kend]

I've fished Duck Lake frequently, over many years.

The 2nd week of Jun thru Mid Jul has been prime time for SMB and LMB, for me.

I don't concern myself with the "mayfly hatch"---
I've caught a lot more BIG fish during this period.

I think the "mayfly hatch" is just another excuse most anglers use,
for not catching fish.

Location and presentation are KEY to being productive.
It may take some time to find the fish and what they prefer.
(TIP: crawdads are #1. Have a variety of plastic colors, so as to closely match the crawdads in the lake---various shades of greens and browns).

Grand Traverse Bay is some prime smallie waters.
Smallies are all over----sometimes they're bunched up like wolf packs, on the prowl.

On good days, your arms will ache, reeling in fish.

[kend]

dup---oops

[Minnowman09]

Duck Lakes bass spawning period usually is around that time of year. I went last year about a week earlier around the 12th or so ans not to many had started spawning yet. Te 24th sounds okay but if you wanted to you could even bump it up to about the 20th. Then again who really knows when the basss will start.

[Fishslayer5789]

I know exactly what you are talking about. The mayfly hatch it usually done around the end of June and I kid you not, the fishing is terrible for basically everything during the hatch on Duck Lake. I live about 10 minutes away from there and fish it a few times a year. The only thing is if the smallmouth are on their beds still (June 20th is about the peak on Duck), then you won't have to worry about the hatch if you fish the beds. Minnowman09 knows the lake pretty well too and he might have something to say about the hatch but I don't know if he has been on the lake during the hatch but just from my experience, the hatch is ridiculous and makes fishing pretty sketchy.

[oneeyedclarence]

Last time I was on Duck Lake was probably 12 years ago. If I remember correctly there wasn't a damn fish in that lake.

Hopefully it has improved over the years.

:yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat: